Banco Sabadell continues to make history alongside the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona

The best tennis players gather once again at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona for the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell - Trofeo Conde de Godó. This new edition will continue to bear the name of Banc Sabadell as the main sponsor after the bank renewed its agreement with the tournament organizers for three more seasons. With the renewal of this partnership, Banc Sabadell will celebrate 20 years as the tournament's main sponsor once this new period, which is renewable for another year, has concluded.

The collaboration began in 2008, and since then, success has accompanied this fruitful partnership. The excellent relationship between the bank and the RCTB-1899 is the result of shared synergies and Banco Sabadell's firm commitment to remain at the helm of a tournament considered one of the most important sporting events in Spain. For Banco Sabadell, the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell - Trofeo Conde de Godó represents an effective platform for the international promotion of the city of Barcelona, ​​to which it continues to strongly commit. "It is a source of pride to renew our commitment to the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, a sporting event with which we share corporate values, and through which we continue to support the city of Barcelona in a tournament that has become part of its identity and with which we maintain a historic partnership alongside the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona," said Josep Ol. This is the longest-standing relationship in the event's history and allows the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell - Trofeo Conde de Godó to reach its 73rd edition while remaining among the elite clay court tournaments. The tournament, which this year takes place from April 11 to 19, is part of the ATP 500 circuit and has confirmed the participation of top-level players such as Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, Carlos Alcaraz, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

73 years of life, Christmas and a custom-made glass

Seventy-three years of history highlight the importance of a tournament that has made tennis and Barcelona an international focus of attention in the world of this sport. Since its inception, the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell - Conde de Godó Trophy has showcased the passion for the sport for which Barcelona is a leading example. The Real Club Tennis Barcelona 1899 was inaugurated that year in the Pedralbes neighborhood, and in 1953 Carlos de Godó i Valls, the second Count of Godó, launched the tennis tournament at its facilities. In doing so, it brought together the various competitions of the International Championship and the spring and summer tournaments between clubs that proliferated in the city, marking the beginning of a brilliant trajectory that is approaching its centenary.

The Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell - Trofeo Conde de Godó is now one of the premier clay court tournaments, enjoying great renown and prestige among international and Spanish players. Rafa Nadal, the greatest clay court player of all time, made his victory celebrations by diving into the club's pool with the ball boys an iconic scene. The Manacor native jumped into the water twelve times, one for each title he won. Nadal leads the all-time victory ranking with twelve titles, ten of which he won between 2005 and 2017, in addition to those in 2018 and 2021, after the 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.

The competition trophy, a piece of silversmithing designed in 1953 by the jewelers Soler and Cabot, bears the names of all the winners. In fact, the extensive list of winners necessitated its redesign in 2000—a new work by J. Roca jewelers—and the widening of its base to accommodate all the names. Valued at 36,000 euros, the silver cup is crowned with a tennis player on the top, and the winner of each edition receives a replica. Only Rafa Nadal has two life-size trophies as a special prize from the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.

Santana and the final at the Palau dels Esports

With a draw of 48 participants since 2012 (previously 56), the tournament has only had to be played away from home once. That was in 1959. Miguel Lerín, then the technical director, demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness by skillfully avoiding the potential cancellation due to rain. To prevent this, he negotiated in record time with the Barcelona City Council to move the competition to the Palau dels Esports, and the new venue, inaugurated for the Mediterranean Games, hosted the final that Sunday in just a few hours on a clay court between the Australians Roy Emerson and Neale Fraser, a match that was inevitable. This final was, in fact, the prelude to another memorable semifinal between the Chilean Luis Ayala and the Spaniard Manolo Santana. Santana had been able to compete in the tournament after intense negotiations between the club and the Spanish army. The tennis player was fulfilling his military service, and his presence at the tournament became almost a matter of national importance. Thus, he was granted special permission, although he ultimately couldn't reach the final, which he went on to win eighteen times throughout his career.

The Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell will continue to witness new stories in this unique tournament. For the tournament's CEO, Xavier Pujol, "it is a great satisfaction to continue counting on the support of Banc Sabadell, a partner that is part of the tournament's history and fully shares its vision and values." "This collaboration allows us to continue consolidating the tournament as a benchmark event on the international tennis calendar and as a major sporting, social, and economic event for the city of Barcelona," Pujol adds. Banco Sabadell will once again highlight the 'Aces Solidaris' initiative during this year's tournament, in its aim to support charitable actions that, like the aforementioned one, "allow us to go a step further and turn each direct service point into an opportunity to support non-profit organizations, a tangible reinforcement in society," concludes Oliu.